Indiana's Breakout 1,000-Yard RB Lands Predraft Visit With Packers

Kaelon Black went from backup to national champion before declaring for the NFL draft.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:06pm

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A fractured, geometric painting in bold colors depicting the dynamic movements of a running back, with overlapping planes and shapes representing the power and speed of the player's athletic performance.A cubist interpretation of a powerful running back's explosive movements, capturing the energy and dynamism of Kaelon Black's standout 2025 season.Today in Miami

Kaelon Black, a 1,000-yard rusher who helped lead Indiana to a surprise national championship in 2025, will have a predraft visit with the Green Bay Packers as he looks to make the jump to the NFL. Black, who overcame a heart condition and torn ACL earlier in his college career, impressed at the Senior Bowl and is now preparing for the draft after a standout final season with the Hoosiers.

Why it matters

The Packers have questions at running back heading into the draft, with Josh Jacobs as the only proven commodity in the backfield. Black's combination of size, power, and surprising speed could make him an intriguing option for Green Bay as they look to add depth and competition to the position.

The details

Black rushed for 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025 to help Indiana win the national championship. He was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine but impressed at his pro day, measuring 5-foot-9 3/4 and 211 pounds while reportedly running a 4.45-second 40-yard dash. Black started his career at James Madison before following his coach to Indiana, where he had a breakout final season that included strong performances in the Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl, and national championship game.

  • Black helped Indiana win the national championship in 2025.
  • Black participated in the Senior Bowl just a week after winning the national title.
  • Black will have a predraft visit with the Green Bay Packers in the coming weeks.

The players

Kaelon Black

A 1,000-yard rusher who helped lead Indiana to a surprise national championship in 2025 and is now preparing for the NFL draft.

Josh Jacobs

The leading running back for the Green Bay Packers, who will be looking to add depth and competition to the position in the draft.

Brian Gutekunst

The general manager of the Green Bay Packers, who has acknowledged the team's need to add competition at running back this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“That you're resilient, man. And you just always believe in God and keep Him first in everything. And I just feel like throughout the process it's been very busy. Going from the national championship to the Senior Bowl to training, it's just taught me a lot about myself and being always humble and never taking things for granted and just thanking God your body's good through it all.”

— Kaelon Black, Running back

“He's our biggest Freak for sure. When he lifts, everything moves so fast. He's ridiculous. I've never seen him struggle [in the weight room]. I saw him bench press 415 the other day, and it was butter. It touched his chest and went right back up. It looked like a warmup set. And he's hella fast.”

— Mikail Kamara, Defensive lineman

What’s next

The Packers will host Black for a predraft visit in the coming weeks as they evaluate their options at running back ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The takeaway

Black's impressive 2025 season and strong showing at the Senior Bowl have put him on the radar of NFL teams like the Packers, who are looking to add depth and competition to their backfield. His combination of size, power, and speed could make him an intriguing option for a team in need of a versatile running back.